Remember how happy Israel was when Bush delivered the $30 Billion worth in weapons, well Saudi Arabia is just as happy with the $20 Billion worth in weapons Bush is going to give them. Seriously, who the fuck gives George W Bush a medal?
The war drum is obviously beating. Bush is touring his Middle Eastern allies with gifts of weapons worth Billions and asking them to mobilize for war, during the same tour has been giving speeches about how evil and dangerous Iran is to the rest of the world. He wants another war, I am curious, are Americans going to support a third Bush war in the middle east? Or will you be cheering for Wexler tonight?
Another statistic to consider is a study West Point conducted recently, the results indicated that 41% of foreign fighters (terrorists, suicide bombers whatever you want to call em, those guys who attack Americans) in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia. There are actually more Moroccans fighting Americans in Iraq than Iranians! Sorry, this is all very insane to watch develop, so don't listen to me, here are some links, form an opinion.
Wapo: US Plans New Arms Sales to Gulf Allies - July 28th 07.
NYT: U.S. Plans Sale of 900 Missiles to Saudi Arabia -Jan 15th.
AP: Congress likely to OK Saudi arms deal - Jan 14th.
CNN - Impact of Saudi Arms deal - Jan 14th.
TDS - History of Arms sales - Jul 26th 07.
Below is a recent segment of PBS Newshour discussing the Bush Visit to Saudi Arabia.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. It seems like Bush is paying the reward for the job some of the Saudi citizens did on September 11th. I mean, let's face it; he's gotten about 20 billion dollars worth of mileage out of the attacks. Maybe it's Dubya's way of saying "thanks."
Personally, Bush should just aim Air Force One straight to The Hague to be tried for his crimes, and while the idiot's gone, maybe we should change the locks on the White House.
Dan at 6:44PM on Jan 15th 2008
2. These same weapons will probably be used against us eventually.
Adam at 7:08PM on Jan 15th 2008
3. Hey Hoard,
I turned on my PC to AOL and there was your smiling face. Although, I'm still not convinced that's not a mug shot of you taken at some jail house up there. If it is a mug shot, you weren't tazed were you bro?
It's an election year hoss, shine up your armor.
Willet at 7:11PM on Jan 15th 2008
4. Ha Willet thought you forgot about me, no believe it or not the mug shot wasn't from jail, I've never been to jail. You wouldn't believe the true story behind the mug shot, so I won't bore you with the details, as you said it's an election year, only what 50 more debates?
Jeff at 7:29PM on Jan 15th 2008
5. Jeff,
First, Bush is not giving Saudi Arabia weapons, he is selling them weapons. That is an important distinction. Second, any connection to this sale and a possible war in Iran is specious at best. If the US were to go to war with Iran Saudi Arabia would play no part in the hostilities so selling them arms would be of no benefit to that war. It is clear to any thinking person that this arms sale has nothing to do with a possible US attack on Iran.
Greg at 7:36PM on Jan 15th 2008
6. Upon reflection, I believe that Bush is trying to add a bit of drama to his last year as President. Things do really point to war, and why not? Most of the Country is fixated on whether Hilary and Bill are good to black people; while the real black people are calling the Clintons minimalists for short-chaning Rev. King during a poorly chosen set of statements by Hilary and Bill called the other camp a "Fairy Tale." Whether the Clintons deserve the angst of 300 years of unfairness or not; I do not know. WHat does seem clear is that Bush is trying to make peace and war all in one swoop. He maybe more craftey than given credit for--who really knows?
Paul at 8:32PM on Jan 15th 2008
7. Selling weapons to other countries, what are you-we talking about uh? We really couldn't be doing that could we? How about since the very first weapons were made and through out the age of weapons, maybe were trading it for poppy seeds like we traded for coco leaves when I served when I wasn't in South America...How else are we going to be able to operate that fail safe button when everyone points the stuff we sold them at us. Capitalism isn't it great...
political08 at 9:36PM on Jan 15th 2008
8. "It is clear to any thinking person that this arms sale has nothing to do with a possible US attack on Iran."
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Greg,what is it all about? Why don't you tell us what that peace-nik Saudi Royal Family wants with 20 billion dollars worth of the world's most sophisticated weapons? Who threatens Saudi Arabia?
Captain Negative at 10:40PM on Jan 15th 2008
9. Jeff you should have stayed in Canada where you belong. From reading the news in Canada, you would have plenty to do rather than butting your Canadian Opinion into United States Afairs.
As for arms sales, so what. It is to a a friendly country to the USA, and can used the arms as ANY other country does, protect itself from internal or external enemies.
USA has history of sending military arms to other countries. Pres Wilson covertly sent arms to the French and English in WW1 before US in WW1. But he hid those arms on ocean crossing cruise ships that led to Germans sinking them which led to excuse for Wilson getting USA in WW1. Then FDR sent mountains of war supplies to China and Russia in the fight against Germany, but that made China and Russian Communists very powerful, and they turned into our enemies right after WW2. Then President Carter, coveretly sent arms to Afgan 6 months BEFORE Russia invaded Afgan, arming the to be Taliban and AQ, who then turned on the USA. And Pres Clinton authorized covert sales of military supplies from Iran to the Muslims in the Balkans, many of which fighters are now in Iraq kiling US Troopsand making the Balkans the next AQ stronghold. Then Reagan arranged sales for covert war in USA backyard in Central America.
Jeff nothing new in USA, nothing new in the world we live. Arms sales to friends and enemies have been going on for almost 100 years, and your Liberal Fascists friends have had their bloody hands in those sales along with many others.
Jeff, do not act surprised when you are being selective in your comments.
ROBERT OKANE at 11:20PM on Jan 15th 2008
10. good good
youyan002 at 11:32PM on Jan 15th 2008
11. kudos to Jeff!!! he understands what is going on here. And to Greg, Captain Negative and Robert Okane I think you have been drinking too much tap water with all that fluoride in you know....that is what hitler did, and they have been doing it for years makes the public docile and more easily controlled by the government and thru gov controlled media shills. Is someone paying you to write these BS! comments are you that stupid?????
tim at 11:38PM on Jan 15th 2008
12. D'oh-KANE lectures...
"Then Reagan arranged sales for covert war in USA backyard in Central America."
You left out the part about how those arms were traded TO IRAN. Amusing the way you glossed that over.
But that wasn't the first or the last time RED-PUBLICANS AIDED IRAN!!!!
You also left the time Ronnie and George Bush Sr. TRADED ARMS FOR HOSTAGES, (to Iran) while proudly proclaiming, "WE DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS!"
Did you forget that, or did you leave it out on purpose?
And knock it off with your repeasted SIMPERING about Jeff Hoard being a Canadian, commenting about the U.S.A.
I know you don't approve of such American ideals as free speech, but you're really embarrassing yourself with this Jeff Hoard and Candada bashing.
Who owns Fux Noise and The Wall Street Journal, and way too much of the right-wing propgaganda machine?
You know, D'oh-KANE. Rupert Murdoch. An Australian. If you want to tell Rupert Murdoch to fuck off, I'll join you.
Captain Negative at 11:38PM on Jan 15th 2008
13. The neo-cons are piling it on before they get ousted from the white house for a while. Sadly they are creating as much of a mess as they can before they leave. Hopefully Hoard didn't get tazed bro. Please vote for Ron Paul or Obama if you want to see this country changed, although nothing better would probably happen anyways. Cynicism in '08.
hyper655 at 12:01AM on Jan 16th 2008
14. Major Bullshit aka Captain Negative
More Bullshit from the Major and more half truths from the non american Jeff.
Truth-Republicans and Liberal Fascists have been selling arms to the Saudies for many a year. Before the Bush sales to the Saudies was the 8 years of Clinton sales to the Saudies.
From 1993 on, Clinton approved $23.8 billion in sales and licenses to Saudi Arabia including some of the most sophisticated weapons the US Produced: General Dynamics M1A2 Abrams tanks, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagle Attack aircraft, and Rockwell GBU-15 smart bombs. Saudies also bought a 300 million upgrade for the Peace Shield radar system of Raytheon.
Major Bullshit, wash the blood off your hands before pointing your bloody Liberal Fascist finger at others. Bush was not the only supplier of arms to the Saudies, Clinton and others did the same.
ROBERT OKANE at 4:10AM on Jan 16th 2008
15. It is clear that OKANE still hasn't read the "PNAC."
It is also clear that OKANE isn't perceiving the larger picture.
OKANE, like his heroes (Bush and Cheney) does not recognize the U.S's own past mistake of arming both sides of a conflict.
OKANE and company have apparently forgotten that the despotic Saudi Arabia is still officially in an official state of war with Israel.
OKANE and company fail to recognize that Bush is PROMOTING THIS SALE as a DEFENSE AGAINST IRAN!
OKANE, and company fail to realize that these sophisticated JDAM weapons are a step above anything ever sold to Saudi Arabia before.
OKANE and company are so frightened of Muslims - but
they aren't afraid that Saudi Arabia might one day use those weapons against the United States and Israel.
OKANE and company fail to see the absurdity of the
Christo-fascist Bush Junta selling sophisticated weapons to the Islamo-fascist Middle East.
But then, these Bush-Cheney suck-ups seem hell-bent on bringing about the end times they have wet dreams about.
Captain Negative at 5:00AM on Jan 16th 2008